Fund Me Friday - Black Mirror: USS Callister
Live now from Twisted Comics
Based on the hit TV show, the USS Callister graphic novel is a rip-roaring space adventure where modern reality and fantasy collide.
It’s been teased for a while, and not only is it live now on Kickstarter, but I also had a chance to put some questions to Neil Gibson of Twisted Comics on Black Mirror: USS Callister.
You can check out some of the other information below:
Step inside the official BLACK MIRROR graphic novels, brought to you by the aptly twisted indie publisher, Twisted Comics, and discover humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations, and more waiting within these mind-bending tales. Adapting the work of one of the most groundbreaking television shows of the 21st century, Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones's flagship series will take flight in this first episode-to-graphic novel adaptation - USS Callister - in the trusted hands of acclaimed writer Neil Gibson and artist Silvano Beltramo, and all-new series covers from Butcher Billy.
With a whole host of add-ons and stretch goals, this looks to be an excellent story to check out - combining something for fans of Black Mirror and Twisted Dark stories. The artwork looks incredible and there is some good quality from this team.
Back it here:
Welcome aboard. First introduced to viewers in 2017, fearless leader Captain Robert Daly and his Space Fleet crew are flying at velocity on their spaceship, the USS Callister, on a quest to defeat their arch enemy Valdack, striving towards the betterment of the universe. Or so it appears.
What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your comic?
Honestly, that’s a question for the creators of the story. My aim is always to entertain, educate, surprise and leave the reader thinking. I think this story does that beautifully.
What challenges did you face in writing the story?
The biggest challenge was adapting it for a new medium. I love the original script but you do have to make compromises and also highlight different things to work when changing mediums. Pacing was also a challenge because comics is normally more condensed than TV writing.
Did any part of the story change significantly from the original story?
I hope not! It’s not my story and I wouldn’t want to butcher the creator’s vision.
What artistic style did you choose, and why?
Ah! This is where it gets interesting. We used a 1960’s style Jack Kirby for the original ‘in game’ moments and a modern approach for the real world stories. When we go back to the game version and things are a little more modern, we used a Neil Adams style art with Ben-day dots.
We also used the font that was used in the original Star Trek comics and 60s colouring. It’s all to give a nod to the original Star Trek which was a clear influence!
How do you approach character design and panel layouts?
How many words am I allowed to use to answer this? :)
For character designs, we wanted to capture the essence of the characters but not match the actors’s directly. As for panel layouts, Silvano reads my scripts and sees how many panels there are and he comes up with the rough layouts. I always check them in the rough stage to make sure the story will flow. He does a great job in varying the panel sizes and shapes and also the angles in each so that the story is always visually interesting.
What tools and techniques do you use to create your comic?
I am a weirdo. I actually write my scripts in Excel, because I find it very efficient - especially when changes are needed. It also gives me data on how many panels I have used for a page and how many times I have used that number in a row etc.
How do you use color (or lack of color) to enhance your storytelling?
Massively! I think there are 7 key members in a film creation, and 5 in comics
For comics you need the right writer, illustrator, colourist, letterer and editor. Colour is so important but you normally only notice it when it’s bad or brilliant. As I mentioned earliern this story we chose to use 1960s type colouring for the original ‘in game’ parts and switching to a 70s style for the later ones.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to create their own comic?
Just do it! Don’t worry about it being perfect - you will learn so much by just starting. But I do suggest you start small. Do a one page story, and then a four page one. Then do a ten page story and then a 22 page. Then you can try a graphic novel. But most of all please do start. I have a free course on our website where people can learn www.twistedcomics.co.uk
Neil Gibson is a writer and editor in chief at Twisted Comics. He lives in London with his wife, two children, and seemingly endless household visitors. He does have social media accounts, but he is rather rubbish at using them and suggests emailing him instead.
Silvano Beltramo is an award-winning comics artist and teacher at Scuola Internazionale di Comics. He worked with the Torino Comics Convention for over a decade and a half, and has worked with a range of publishers and projects from Opus Comics to Maverick Arts, and more.
Agnese Pozza and Rob Jones are the colourist and letterer for USS Callister, respectively.
Butcher Billy is a Brazilian illustrator who serves up a fresh slice of modern culture by splicing ideas, imagery, lyrics and moods together forming his own unique form of contemporary nostalgia. His iconic style will be familiar to Black Mirror fans, with much of his work appearing on the show.
Other artists who feature throughout the campaign are: Patrick Mulholland, who has created the alternative cover dust jacket, and Bill Elliott whose Space Fleet artwork is used in-episode, as well as newly created ones for us now.
Twisted Comics is an indie comic book publisher founded in 2012. Their mission is to introduce the joy of comics to as many new readers as possible, as they believe there is a book out there for everyone. Titles have included the Twisted Dark series, Tabatha, the Traveller and more.
